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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. rest — a break
  3. current — of water
  4. mark — a grade
  5. rest — what's left
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. mark — a trace
  8. current — electric
  9. snap — to click
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. rest — what's left
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. season — of the year
  21. season — in sport
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. current — happening now

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com